Nats question executive's $84,000 travel bill

Maori Trustee John Paki. Photo / Chris Carter

The National Party has questioned the $84,000 travel bill of one Te Puni Kokiri (TPK) executive.

National MP Tau Henare today asked TPK chief executive Leith Comer about the bill, which made up almost half of the Maori affairs department's $169,000 travel bill for the year to June 30.

Mr Comer said the bill was for one individual - Maori Trustee John Paki - who had travelled extensively to lobby for and support Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu who was appointed World Heritage Committee (WHC) chairman in the middle of July last year.

He said Mr Paki had played a key role supporting Mr te Heuheu in the lead up to his appointment and also in helping manage a range of issues in the lead up to the WHC meeting in Christchurch in June.

- NZPA